Coin slot machine



July 27, 1965 J. RUB ETAL COIN SLOT MACHINE Filed April 50, 1964 UnitedStates Patent 3,197,006 COIN SLOT MACI-IiNE Jakob Rub and EugenBaumgartuer, both of Wolthausen- Buhilron, Zurich, Switzerland,assignors to Maschinenfabril; Ad. Schulthess & Co., AG, Zurich,Switzerland Filed Apr. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 363,905 Claims priority,application Switzerland, Nov. 25, 1963, 14,394/ 63 4 Claims. (Cl. 194-9)The invention relates to a coin slot machine with an inclined channelserving as passage for the coins, wherein the coin located lowermost inthe channel operates a switch, and wherein a closing member is arnangedat the outlet of the channel and so operated by the energizing of anelectromagnet that it liberates the channel outlet. A coin slotm'achineof this kind may have two channels for coins of differentvalues, comprising several photoelectric elements along each channel sothat the number of inserted coins may be taken into consideration.

The present invention has the object of providing a particularly simplecoin slot machine whereby the number of coins inserted into the channelmay be taken into account and which is suitable for operating, forexample, an automatic laundry drier for a period corresponding to thenumber of inserted coins.

In the coin slot machine according to the invention the closing membermentioned above is so connected kinematically with a second closingmember that, when the channel outlet is opened by the first closingmember, the channel is closed by the second closing member immediatelyabove the bottommost coin so that any further coins in the channel areretained therein until both closing members return into their restposition on de-energization of the electromagnet, causing any furthercoins in the channel to be advanced by one position towards the outlet.

The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention in diagrammatic form.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a vertical axial section of a coin slot machine;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section through the machine of FIG. 1 along the lineIIII wherein the coins have been omitted and the lower portion of themachine is shown broken away by dash-dot lines.

The coin slot machine has a housing represented in the diagrammaticdrawing by a base plate 1 inclined to the horizontal plane h-h under anangle a of e.g. 20-30. A channel 2 parallel to the base plate 1, servingas guide for coins 3 and starting at an insertion slot 4 for the coins 3has a short end section 2a, angled relative to the main section so thatwith correct assembly it is normal or substantially normal to thehorizontal plane h-h.

An electromagnet 5 has an axially moveable magnetic core 6 which isattracted into the electromagnet in the direction of the arrow 7 whenthe same is energized, against the action of a compression spring 8resting against the electromagnet 5 and against a stay pin 9. This staypin 9 is mounted on the free end of the moving magnetic core 6 andextends on one side thereof in the radial direction beyond the verticalplane in which the channel 2 is located. When the electromagnet 5 is notenergized, the stay pin 9 (or retaining pin) is in the position shown byfull lines in which it prevents a coin 3 located lowermost in the endsection 2a of the channel from leaving the same and from droppingthrough a slot 10 in the base plate 1 into a cash 'box, not shown. Thisprocess is achieved by energizing the electromagnet 5, causing theretaining pin 9 to move in the position 9' shown by dotted lines, thusliberating the outlet of the end section 2a.

In order to prevent on energizing the electromagnet 5 all coins 3located in the channel 2 from leaving the same,

3,197,996 Patented July 27, 1965 "ice there is provided a lever 11 whichis pivotable about a horizontal axis 13 mounted on a support 12. Thislever 11 has on its free end a jaw 14 which embraces the retaining pin 9so that, when the magnetic core 6 moves in the direction of the arrow 7,the lever 11 is pivoted in an anticlockwise direction (as viewed in FIG.1). Near the centre of the lever 11 there is mounted thereon a catch pin15 parallel to the retaining pin 9 and located in the rest position inthe full-line position outside the channel end section 2a. On energizingthe electromagnet 5 and with the consequent pivoting of the lever 11,the catch pin v15 enters into the channel end section 2a throughcorresponding recesses 16 in the channel walls. The catch pin 15 reachesthus the position 15' shown by dotted lines in which it catchesthesecond coin 3 in the channel 2, that is to say, it retains it in thechannel 2 whilst the first coin 3 is allowed .to leave. 7

The arrangement also comprises a microswitch 17, the operating member 18 of which is operated by the lowermost coin 3 against the force of aspring, not shown. Obviously, when the coin 3 leaves the channel endsection, the switch 17 returns to its rest position. It is also clearthat the switch 17 may be a simple make-and-break switch (with open orclosed contact in the rest position) or a change-over switch.

The operation of the coin slot machine is apparent substantially fromthe preceding description. Assuming, for example, that three coins 3 -3have been inserted through the slot 4 into the channel 2, the weightofthe first coin 3 will press against the operating member 18 of theswitch 17, causing for example a circuit to close which operates in turna timing device, not shown in the drawing. The timer switches for apre-set period of time AT an installation, such as, an automatic laundrydrier. Shortly before this period of time lapses, a circuit is closed inwhich the electromagnet 5 is located. By energizing the electromagnet 5the retaining pin 9 is moved into its liberating position 9', causingthe lever 11 to be pivoted and the catch pin 15 to move into its lockingposition 15'. The first coin '3 drops through the slot 10 into the cashbox whilst the coins 3 and 3 are retained by the catch pin 15 in theirprevious positions. At the end of the time AT the circuit is againbroken and the de-energized electromagnet 5 allows the core "6 to returnto its rest position. The catch pin 15 trees now the coin 3 which isretained by the retaining pin in the previous position of the coin 3 atthe bottom of the channel end section 2a whilst the coin 3 advances tothe position of the coin 3 The switch 17 reactuates the timer and themachine is actuated for a second period of time AT. Obviously this cycleis repeated as many times as there are coins 3 in the channel so that inthe present case with three coins the drier remains in operation for aperiod of time of 3AT. This very simple coin slot machine may thereforebe used for switching a timer for a total period of time correspond ingto the amount of money paid in coins of the same kind.

The mechanical switch 17 may also be replaced by a photo-electricswitch. In this case the bottommost coin 3 would screen alight-sensitive electric element such as a photo-resistor located on oneside of the section which is illuminated by a light source on the otherside of this section when the channel is empty. This eliminates the useof a plurality of photo-resistors along the channel as in known coinslot machines. However, generally the described embodiment comprising amicroswitch will generally be preferred in View of its simplicity andeconomy.

We claim: 7

1. In a coin operated machine, a coin chute providing a coin passagewayhaving a discharge end, a spring projected electromagnetically actuatedplunger mounted adjacent said discharge end of said chute, a detent pinon said plunger normally projecting into the passageway to arrestmovement of a coin in the discharge end thereof, a pivoted lever, 21 pinon .said lever projecting into said passageway in advance of saiddischarge end to arrest movement of a coin next to the coin retained bysaid first named pin, said lever being provided with a slotted endportion receiving said detent pin so that actuation of said plunger willretract the detent pin to permit the passage of the lowermost coin andsimultaneously will actuate the lever and move said second mentioned pininto the path of said second mentioned coin to retain the same as wellas further coins in said chute, and an electric switch adjacent thedischarge end of said chute adapted to be engaged by the lowermost coinin said passageway during itsmov'ement through the discharge end of saidchute.

2. Ina coin operated machine, an inclined coin chute providing a coinpassageway having a coin discharge at its lower end, anelectromagnetically actuated plunger. offset from the plane of saidchute adjacent the discharge end thereof, a detent pin extendingradially from said plunger, a spring member for holding said plunger ina projected position with the pin projecting into the coin passageway atthe discharge end thereof to arrest movement of a coin through saiddischarge end, a pivoted lever, a pin on said lever adapted to projectinto said passageway to arrest movement of a coin immediately above acoin in the discharge end when said plunger is actuated against thetension of said spring member, said lever being provided with a forkedportion embracing said detent pin so that actuation of said plunger willactuate said lever, and an electric switch adjacent said discharge endadapted to be engaged by the passage of the lowermost coin in saidpassageway through said discharge end and control said machine.

3. In a coin operated machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein saidinclined coin chute is provided with an angu lar section extending at agreater angle to the horizontal.

4. In a coin operated machine as set forth in claim 2 in which saidswitch is a normally open microswitch whose operating member is adaptedto .be actuated by the lowermost coin in said chute.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 8/43 Marcus 19461/56 Kaplanouski 194-6

1. IN A COIN OPERATED MACHINE, A COIN CHUTE PROVIDING A COIN PASSAGEWAYHAVING A DISCHARGE END, A SPRING PROJECTED ELECTROMAGNETICALLY ACTUATEDPLUNGER MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID DISCHARGE END OF SAID CHUTE, A DETENT PINON SAID PLUNGER NORMALLY PROJECTING INTO THE PASSAGEWAY TO ARRESTMOVEMENT OF A COIN IN THE DISCHARGE END THEREOF, A PIVOTED LEVER, A PINON SAID LEVER PROJECTING INTO SAID PASSAGEWAY IN ADVANCE OF SAIDDISCHARGE END TO ARREST MOVEMENT OF A COIN NEXT TO THE COIN RETAINED BYSAID FIRST NAMED PIN, SAID LEVER BEING PROVIDED WITH A SLOTTED ENDPORTION RECEIVING SAID DETENT PIN SO THAT ACTUATION OF SAID PLUNGER WILLRETRACT THE DETENT PIN TO PERMIT THE PASSAGE OF THE LOWERMOST COIN ANDSIMULTANEOUSLY WILL ACTUATE THE LEVER AND MOVE SAID SECOND MENTIONED PININTO THE PATH OF SAID SECOND MENTIONED COIN TO RETAIN THE SAME AS WELLAS FURTHER COINS IN SAID CHUTE, AND AN ELECTRIC SWITCH ADJACENT THEDISCHARGE END OF SAID CHUTE ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY THE LOWERMOST COININ SAID PASSAGEWAY DURING ITS MOVEMENT THROUGH THE DISCHARGE END OF SAIDCHUTE.